Four great reasons to say YES

Wind power is more affordable

Wind power is more cost-effective and competitive RIGHT NOW, even without taking in to account the future increased costs of other traditional types of energy. According to LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) criteria, onshore wind power is the least expensive energy source.

Need more convincing? This chart from the Directorate-General for Energy (European Commission) demonstrates how the price of electricity drops when the wind blows¹.

When it comes to deciding on the energy of choice for our day to day needs, the debate is over. The discussion is typically between supporters and detractors of different sources of energy. This has lead to the misconception that wind power is a luxury we cannot afford in the current context; but nothing could be further from the truth.

Wind energy is one of the least expensive generation technologies in the world. In fact LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) criteria demonstrate that wind and hydraulic energy costs are even below those of conventional energy sources.

Renewable energy generates jobs and wealth. Several studies show that 13 jobs are created for every million dollars invested in the wind energy sector (Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts).

Spain currently has around 20,000 jobs linked to wind energy, and that figure continues to grow.

Wind power facilities are built in rural areas where there are strong wind resources. This provides significant stimulation to rural economies, not only through the creation of jobs at the local level but also through improved infrastructure. Wind farm operators lease land from local property owners, and also pay local taxes.

The direct contribution of renewables to the national GDP in Spain is estimated to be 9.9 billion euros in 2015 and 13.1 billion euros in 2020, while the indirect contribution would be approximately 3.8 billion additional euros in 2015 and 4.9 billion euros in 2020. The sum of the direct and indirect contribution would represent 1.14% of the national GDP in 2015 and 1.20% in 2020 (Greenpeace, 2014).

Wind energy avoids the need to import fossil fuels because it comes via a natural phenomenon that is abundant in our own country.

“It is now obvious that one of the cheapest, and most radically sustainable solutions is to increase the use of our national sources of renewable energy.”

European Commissioner on Climate Change and Energy.

Wind energy is an indigenous energy source. In other words, it is obtained from an energy source found in our own country. For this reason, unlike other types of energy, it does not require the importation of fossil fuels from other countries.

In the case of Spain, energy dependence stood at 70.8% in 2012 (the European Union average was estimated to be 53.8%), which shows that support for wind energy is necessary to improve the national energy supply. But, beyond its potential to mitigate climate change and improve the access to and security of the energy supply, in recent years there has been an increase in studies analyzing the benefits for social and economic development generated by the promotion of wind energy.

The use of wind power protects the environment and curbs global warming

Wind energy does not emit CO² or other greenhouse gases, and is fundamental in curbing global warming and climate change.

In contrast with the polluting effects of fossil fuels, wind energy is environmentally friendly. Fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, while wind energy does not emit these gases and is fundamental in stopping global warming and climate change.

In the year 2010, CO² concentrations were higher than 390 parts per million (ppm), 39% above pre-industrial levels. The contribution of wind energy to the reduction of atmospheric emissions (greenhouse gases) has been widely documented in professional literature and there are multiple studies and reports that confirm the positive effects of wind in relation to the reduction of CO² emissions.